Highest house in your area?

Nqp15hhu · 13-03-2021 11:49pm #1

Just out of interest. Locally I can only see a house at about 810 feet (250 metres), most “high elevation” homes are around 700 feet. I have found one above 1,000 feet but that is rare and about 20 miles away.

Not sure if this is due to climate or other reasons. But thinking of this winter and previous winters anywhere above 1000 feet here has snow cover about 30 days (or more) each winter.

I always thought I’d love to live at that altitude but I can imagine its a nightmare getting in and out, as I would imagine the road wouldn’t be ploughed. Plus the summers would probably struggle to get above 22c on the hottest days.

I am sure any house above 1500 feet would have a semi permanent snow cover. As the average high at that altitude would be about 3c.

So what is the highest house in your area by elevation?

Deseras · 13-03-2021 11:53pm

I use four wheel drive and never get stuck in snow

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 12:02am

Deseras wrote: »

I use four wheel drive and never get stuck in snow

What elevation do you live at? Just thinking above 1000 feet here you definitely couldn’t use normal tyres.

hurikane · 14-03-2021 12:04am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Just out of interest. Locally I can only see a house at about 810 feet (250 metres), most “high elevation” homes are around 700 feet. I have found one above 1,000 feet but that is rare and about 20 miles away.

Not sure if this is due to climate or other reasons. But thinking of this winter and previous winters anywhere above 1000 feet here has snow cover about 30 days (or more) each winter.

I always thought I’d love to live at that altitude but I can imagine its a nightmare getting in and out, as I would imagine the road wouldn’t be ploughed. Plus the summers would probably struggle to get above 22c on the hottest days.

I am sure any house above 1500 feet would have a semi permanent snow cover. As the average high at that altitude would be about 3c.

So what is the highest house in your area by elevation?

What country are you in? Nowhere in Ireland has semi permanent snow cover.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 12:06am

hurikane wrote: »

What country are you in? Nowhere in Ireland has semi permanent snow cover.

Yes the high hills do. Here above 1000 feet averages 30 days of snow cover. That increases 5 days ever 300 feet.

Donegal Storm · 14-03-2021 2:28am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Yes the high hills do. Here above 1000 feet averages 30 days of snow cover. That increases 5 days ever 300 feet.

Eh.. that definitely isn't true

Plenty hills in Donegal well above 600m/2000ft that I'd say at a rough estimate have ~15-20 days of snow cover in a normal year at the peaks. I also drive through Meenaroy frequently which I think tops out at around 300m/1000ft and there's maybe 5-10 days in a normal year where it's any way dodgy with snow.

As for highest houses, a quick play around with maps.ie I can see plenty in the higher parts of Letterkenny around 170m, highest I can see is 216m just north of the town

Rodin · 14-03-2021 2:30am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Yes the high hills do. Here above 1000 feet averages 30 days of snow cover. That increases 5 days ever 300 feet.

2 to 3 months a year of snow cover is not semi-permanent. And nobody is living at the top of Carrauntoohil.

Nowhere in Ireland has 'semi-permanent' snow cover.

Rodin · 14-03-2021 2:31am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Yes the high hills do. Here above 1000 feet averages 30 days of snow cover. That increases 5 days ever 300 feet.

Where's your evidence that elevations of 330m in Ireland have 30 days annually of snow cover?

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 5:46am

Rodin wrote: »

2 to 3 months a year of snow cover is not semi-permanent. And nobody is living at the top of Carrauntoohil.

Nowhere in Ireland has 'semi-permanent' snow cover.

In the winter, yes it is.

Graces7 · 14-03-2021 6:08am

I lived in the Bluestacks during the snow-winter; while the snow lasted longer than lower down it was not of the duration vaunted here. And that was an exceptional winter.

The Mayo mountains around Croagh Patrick here show a snow topping occasionally but awhile it can linger a few days again not of long duration. And not every winter.

OP needs to gather correct information from residents...

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 7:33am

It seems to me that the temperatures are not cold enough for significant snowfall and accumulation to occur.

The 3°C the OP mentions is still relatively balmy. Both the ground and air temperatures need to be lower and sustained in order for snow to cover.

I would't worry about having to install winter tyres in Ireland.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 7:47am

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

It seems to me that the temperatures are not cold enough for significant snowfall and accumulation to occur.

The 3°C the OP mentions is still relatively balmy. Both the ground and air temperatures need to be lower and sustained in order for snow to cover.

I would't worry about having to install winter tyres in Ireland.

Snow can easily lie around at 3c high if it is subzero throughout the night.

Are you going to bother to answer the question?

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 8:07am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Snow can easily lie around at 3c high if it is subzero throughout the night.

Are you going to bother to answer the question?

Yes, if the ground is cold enough due to sustained cold temps, the snow can accumulate. The problem is in getting significant snowfalls, and accumulation, which you won't get when temps hover around that. Snow where I live accumulated to about 2 feet since december and has only begun to melt dramatically this past week. It is melting because snowfall is turning into rain and because of balmy temps like 3C and above.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 8:11am

I have had many cold spells where snow has stayed on the ground for days with highs of 2-3c... if the humidity is low snow is not an issue.

But answer the question.

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 8:32am

Mont St-Hilaire, The closest mountain to me is 19km. It is 414m high. I suppose there are houses situated at maybe 200m , probably not higher than that. My town is at 4m above sea level.

Graces7 · 14-03-2021 9:55am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I have had many cold spells where snow has stayed on the ground for days with highs of 2-3c... if the humidity is low snow is not an issue.

But answer the question.

"please"...

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 10:04am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I have had many cold spells where snow has stayed on the ground for days with highs of 2-3c... if the humidity is low snow is not an issue.

But answer the question.

Your posts about snow tyres at 1000+ feet don't make sense. Why would you need them when you have random periods of 2 or 3 days of snow cover that disappear in warmer weather slash rain?

Gaoth Laidir · 14-03-2021 11:29am

Mine is at 65 m. About 1 km away, between here and Maynooth, there is a "hill" peaking at 92 m. I walked there yesterday and it was bone dry as I left home but there was a covering of about 10 cm at the top of the hill, starting at 90 m. Below 90 m was clear. People were tobogganing down those 2 metres.

I jest, of course. 92 m is the highest near me but the rest false. Nowhere in Ireland has anything close to semi-permanent snow cover during any winter. As others have said, a few extra days per year. I see the northern side of Kippure (750 m) daily and it generally has a patchy cover for about 5 days after a snow event.

Rodin · 14-03-2021 12:17pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

In the winter, yes it is.

So for 3 months of the year.
That's not "semi permanent".

CirrusBusiness · 14-03-2021 1:31pm

Highest up here at a guess would be about 300 metres or just shy of 1000 feet up the back of Tomduff. (Near Mt Leinster) Most are around the 150m mark or below.

gooseman12 · 14-03-2021 2:06pm

The butter road in cork goes pretty high and there's houses to almost 380m from what I can see on the terrain layer on google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52.014475,+-8.954645/@52.0146696,-8.9549989,17z/data=!3m1!1e3

hurikane · 14-03-2021 2:09pm

gooseman12 wrote: »

The butter road in cork goes pretty high and there's houses to almost 380m from what I can see on the terrain layer on google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52.014475,+-8.954645/@52.0146696,-8.9549989,17z/data=!3m1!1e3

God only knows hose they manage with the semi permanent snow cover.

lolie · 14-03-2021 2:11pm

Highest near here is 100m but about 5km away as the crow flies theres a few at 200m with hills of 250m behind them.
95m or so here.

giveitholly · 14-03-2021 2:31pm

hurikane wrote: »

God only knows hose they manage with the semi permanent snow cover.

And no snow tyres

hurikane · 14-03-2021 2:35pm

giveitholly wrote: »

And no snow tyres

I’d say 6 months of the year it’s, helicopter only, in and out.

KevRossi · 14-03-2021 2:35pm

I only know one person who puts on winter tyres for 4-5 months of the year. Her house is at 300m or so. She needs then to make it easier get out of a steep driveway (150m) maybe 5 days a year, 10 in a colder year. Its just saves on the hassle of clearing the path first thing in the morning, if so she could do it on M+S tyres. Winter tyres actually offer better braking and control in temps under 7 C, so that's another reason for her to change them.

There is no semi permanent snow cover there, she has had snow cover lasting more than 21 days 4 times since the early 1980's. The 'snow cover' is usually several inches, but is cleared after a couple of days by the council. Her drive takes her a long morning to clear by snow shovel and salt.

I do a fair bit of hillwalking in Wicklow, we rarely have any issues under 600m in winter. Small pockets of snow in very sheltered locations linger for a few weeks, but there is never anything approaching 'snow cover'.

I lived near Munich and they had far more snow than we do and it stayed for a lot longer, continental climate and an elevation in excess of 500m sees to that.

DumbBrunette · 14-03-2021 3:05pm

I never knew about that spot in Cork. I can't think of anywhere in Ireland that has habitation above this level.

Can anyone beat 380m?

EDIT: Ballinascorney Lodge B&B in south Dublin is at 440 metres. Given its location in the east of the country, it would get far more snow than anywhere at a similar elevation in Cork or Kerry.

I'd say that in a cool winter, it could have semi-permanent snow cover!

gooseman12 wrote: »

The butter road in cork goes pretty high and there's houses to almost 380m from what I can see on the terrain layer on google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52.014475,+-8.954645/@52.0146696,-8.9549989,17z/data=!3m1!1e3

Oneiric 3 · 14-03-2021 4:15pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

So what is the highest house in your area by elevation?

Absolutely no idea. Town I live in is pretty flat with just a few sharpish inclines on the other side of it. Would say they go up as far as about 50/55m or so.

Just out of interest, how much snow & snow days have you observed at your own low lying location throughout this season? No notable hills around here so we have to depend on low lying snow all the time. Would say that overall, the winter just gone has brought below average amounts and number of days with snow, but having said that, I don't recall one single year where I haven't seen snow at some stage in the winter/early spring, even during exceptionally mild ones.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 4:50pm

Oneiric 3 wrote: »

Absolutely no idea. Town I live in is pretty flat with just a few sharpish inclines on the other side of it. Would say they go up as far as about 50/55m or so.

Just out of interest, how much snow & snow days have you observed at your own low lying location throughout this season? No notable hills around here so we have to depend on low lying snow all the time. Would say that overall, the winter just gone has brought below average amounts and number of days with snow, but having said that, I don't recall one single year where I haven't seen snow at some stage in the winter/early spring, even during exceptionally mild ones.

At my location I have had 9 days of snow lying and 20 days of snow falling, which is actually about average but as you say we had a bit of a snow drought in the easterly.

And yes we always get snow here even in mild winters.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 4:54pm

gooseman12 wrote: »

The butter road in cork goes pretty high and there's houses to almost 380m from what I can see on the terrain layer on google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52.014475,+-8.954645/@52.0146696,-8.9549989,17z/data=!3m1!1e3

Wow that’s rather high! Would get a lot of snow here at that height.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 4:58pm

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

Your posts about snow tyres at 1000+ feet don't make sense. Why would you need them when you have random periods of 2 or 3 days of snow cover that disappear in warmer weather slash rain?

Snow lasts more than 2 or 3 days at altitude, more like a week.

You would need winter tyres because the road wouldn’t be ploughed, do you think you could drive on this with normal tyres?

Supercell · 14-03-2021 5:26pm

When I lived in Annamoe in Wicklow I was at about 200 meters elevation. I'd say on average we had 5 days snow cover per winter with some incredible dumpings from time to time. Had lying snow some days from October to April. I remember chatting with Arctictree who lives there (at around 250 meters IIRC) and I think he said he saw a house at around 300 meters or even higher locally. I'd say the amount of lying snow days isnt linear with height, anything above 250 or so and the amount of days lying shoots up, at least that was my impression when living there.

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 5:31pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Snow lasts more than 2 or 3 days at altitude, more like a week.

You would need winter tyres because the road wouldn’t be ploughed, do you think you could drive on this with normal tyres?

Yes, no problem.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 5:34pm

Supercell wrote: »

When I lived in Annamoe in Wicklow I was at about 200 meters elevation. I'd say on average we had 5 days snow cover per winter with some incredible dumpings from time to time. Had lying snow some days from October to April. I remember chatting with Arctictree who lives there (at around 250 meters IIRC) and I think he said he saw a house at around 300 meters or even higher locally. I'd say the amount of lying snow days isnt linear with height, anything above 250 or so and the amount of days lying shoots up, at least that was my impression when living there.

5 days!? I average about 10 days here at low level. That seems awful low for the entire winter!

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 6:06pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Snow lasts more than 2 or 3 days at altitude, more like a week.

You would need winter tyres because the road wouldn’t be ploughed, do you think you could drive on this with normal tyres?

That is actually not a lot a snow. Easy peasy. No winter tyres needed.

Oneiric 3 · 14-03-2021 6:24pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Wow that’s rather high! Would get a lot of snow here at that height.

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

5 days!? I average about 10 days here at low level. That seems awful low for the entire winter!

Serious question, do you ask these questions in order just to boast about snow fall in your location after people, in good faith, answer your questions?

I posted a map just recently showing that low levels lying snow in Northern Ireland averages no more than 5 days per year. You are low lying and also relatively near the sea, so I honestly doubt that your average is 9 or 10 days. In fact, I wager that I would see more snow and more snow days than you would in an average year here in the tropical 'south'. And that isn't a boast, just more an understanding of how the geography and climate of Ireland works.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 6:35pm

I asked forum members what was the elevation of the highest house in their locality, the discussion was turned round on me in a calculated manner. Only a few people have bothered to answer the question thus far. The rest have taken their time in giving me jabs as usual.

Not sure what map you are using. I am within the 10 day zone. And the hills above my home have in excess of >22 days.

If you think you have more snow days than me don’t bother asking then. If you’re that knowledgeable and such an expert on the climate where I live. Despite living over 150 miles away.

Supercell · 14-03-2021 6:49pm

Thats an interesting map, has anyone an equivalent for the south?
I have an ancient "Climate of Ireland" book somewhere which probably has but thats from the 80's and undeniably the climate has gotten warmer since and with snow marginal here so often I dont think the numbers are very reliable as an indicator now.

hurikane · 14-03-2021 6:51pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I asked forum members what was the elevation of the highest house in their locality, the discussion was turned round on me in a calculated manner. Only a few people have bothered to answer the question thus far. The rest have taken their time in giving me jabs as usual.

Not sure what map you are using. I am within the 10 day zone. And the hills above my home have in excess of >22 days.

If you think you have more snow days than me don’t bother asking then. If you’re that knowledgeable and such an expert on the climate where I live. Despite living over 150 miles away.

Wow you’re some victim.

Why choose an out of date snow lying map?

Have a look at this link, it basically contradicts everything you’ve been saying.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/snow/snow-in-the-uk

Kaybaykwah · 14-03-2021 6:53pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

I asked forum members what was the elevation of the highest house in their locality, the discussion was turned round on me in a calculated manner. Only a few people have bothered to answer the question thus far. The rest have taken their time in giving me jabs as usual.

Not sure what map you are using. I am within the 10 day zone. And the hills above my home have in excess of >22 days.

If you think you have more snow days than me don’t bother asking then. If you’re that knowledgeable and such an expert on the climate where I live. Despite living over 150 miles away.

You were asking for more than your initial question.

In fact, your question was buried under other considerations about the climate. Folks answered your questions, and commented about your observations politely. You seem to have a little problem addressing people to begin with, you should go one question at a time, and as you gain confidence, try another one, then another one. With practice, your skills at framing questions in the right order, and obtaining the right responses will likely improve.

Oneiric 3 · 14-03-2021 6:53pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

If you think you have more snow days than me don’t bother asking then

I don't think it. I know it.

But I don't get why you are always on about snow at altitude. If what you say is correct in that you saw numerous days with snow and lying snow at your location, then why are you always looking up and elsewhere in your vicinity? Many of us here on the central plain don't have that luxury, but we get what we get, and we get more than you. Not as much as the likes of Donegal or Tyrone and places like that, but hey ho.

And no one is jabbing at you, but when you ask a question only in order to show how little snow those that answer get compared to you, then you are not asking this question in good faith. You are a very smart guy, so I don't get why you are so self indulgent and immature when it comes to the topic of snow in Ireland.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 14-03-2021 6:58pm

My house is at 160m elevation outside letterkenny and we get snow/frost when no where else does. I have a 4WD car for winter use only as there is a steep lane way up to our house and even with 1 or 2cm of snow a regular FWD or RWD car won’t get up it. It’s also windier with us than on low ground such as in letterkenny town also and a degree or so colder.

Nqp15hhu · 14-03-2021 7:16pm

hurikane wrote: »

Wow you’re some victim.

Why choose an out of date snow lying map?

Have a look at this link, it basically contradicts everything you’ve been saying.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/snow/snow-in-the-uk

Sorry what did you expect? I asked a simple question and it turns into this.

hurikane · 14-03-2021 7:21pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Sorry what did you expect? I asked a simple question and it turns into this.

Well I didn’t expect someone who has been contradicted to play victim.

I’m on mobile, share the more up to date snow lying map from then link which I’ve provided, with everyone please.

14-03-2021 7:24pm

There's a new house approximately 1000ft asl beside the croghan wind farm 4 miles west of me with belting views north to the Sugarloaf, south to Mt Leinster and east out over the Irish sea to Snowdonia and beyond
Its a site cut into rock at the edge of a wood
It overlooks Arklow bay, its nearest point to the Sea far below it
When I win the lotto, I'm buying it

SouthWesterly · 14-03-2021 7:58pm

My house is at 176m. Houses nearby at 233m

blackbird99 · 14-03-2021 10:04pm

couple of houses close to kilbehenny side of the galtees, being south facing s.now dosn't last too long. this house looks to be about 375m https://www.google.com/maps/@52.3211548,-8.210037,15z/data=!5m1!1e4?hl=en
there are a couple on north side at about 280 to 300m

Rebelbrowser · 15-03-2021 12:04am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Sorry what did you expect? I asked a simple question and it turns into this.

I do think you get a hard time on here, but some of the criticism has a certain validity. I would just comment though, on a very non scientific basis, that my impression from you this winter was that you had a lot of snow forecast for your area which didn't ultimately fall (we all get winters like that I should say). Again very unscientific, but accordingly my impression this winter was of you bemoaning this fact a lot. Hence I'm surprised you are now saying that you had 20 days of falling snow and 9 days of lying snow?

Nqp15hhu · 15-03-2021 6:16am

Rebelbrowser wrote: »

I do think you get a hard time on here, but some of the criticism has a certain validity. I would just comment though, on a very non scientific basis, that my impression from you this winter was that you had a lot of snow forecast for your area which didn't ultimately fall (we all get winters like that I should say). Again very unscientific, but accordingly my impression this winter was of you bemoaning this fact a lot. Hence I'm surprised you are now saying that you had 20 days of falling snow and 9 days of lying snow?

Yes, a lot of the snow here is very marginal or cutting it thin, because the airmasses that come in here are often saturated, so the change over is literally within a degree of freezing; I have had rain at 0.7/0.8c a few times this winter. So, a mile up the road from me will have a few inches and it'll be raining here. This winter on more than a few occasions, I have driven from lying snow to falling snow but wet ground to rain over the course of a mile.

Regarding events, yes the easterly brought a few streamers that were about five miles from my house, that dropped about 5cm. I also had something similar occur during a NW. However, we did still manage to have around 20 days of falling snow, which by the way isn't a massive amount if you average it out throughout the winter. That's about 4 days each month.

Gaoth Laidir · 15-03-2021 8:55am

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

Yes, a lot of the snow here is very marginal or cutting it thin, because the airmasses that come in here are often saturated, so the change over is literally within a degree of freezing; I have had rain at 0.7/0.8c a few times this winter. So, a mile up the road from me will have a few inches and it'll be raining here. This winter on more than a few occasions, I have driven from lying snow to falling snow but wet ground to rain over the course of a mile.

Regarding events, yes the easterly brought a few streamers that were about five miles from my house, that dropped about 5cm. I also had something similar occur during a NW. However, we did still manage to have around 20 days of falling snow, which by the way isn't a massive amount if you average it out throughout the winter. That's about 4 days each month.

That is a massive amount, actually. And I agree, from your posts here it would seem that you actually only had about 5 days when any snow even fell, nevermind stuck, at your house. You did do a lot of driving to see snow, but that doesn't count.

Nqp15hhu · 15-03-2021 9:28am

No that’s not true at all. We definitely did have snow fall on 20 days.. we had a few days in December and the other winter months.. again not hard to add up if you have a few days each month.

But if you want to dispute that, that’s your perogative.

Highest house in your area?

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